11-01-09
Thanksgiving Greetings from the Haitian Lutheran Mission Project

WOW, things are getting rough for many here in the States but we still have much to be Thankful for this season. Don’t believe me?

Here is a summary of what happened to the people from the MAYFLOWER who settled Plymouth Colony. Their first winter was brutal and they suffered many deaths but the following summer of 1621 was beautiful. After a bountiful harvest and saving enough supplies to feed the colony for the coming winter the settlers gave thanks to God for his Blessings. Gov. Bradford declared a public day of thanksgiving and a 3 day celebration took place. A few weeks later with winter approaching a ship load of new settlers arrived with NO supplies to get them through the winter. YIKES!

I don’t know what debates took place over this matter but the settlers did take these people into their homes giving them shelter and food until almost all was depleted. From that point on food was rationed. They entered their own starving time that winter of 1621-1622. Each settler was allowed 5 kernels of corn a day. It‘s true. 5 kernels of corn a day! They trusted God because they knew they were doing HIS will. God’s reward? Not one person died that winter for lack of food.

God does bless us. The more we sacrifice the greater the blessing.

Although in this economy we may feel we are having to do without some of the things we consider necessities, Thanksgiving might be a good time for us to re evaluate what is really important and what we might be able to give up permanently to give glory to GOD.

I am not asking any of you to starve your families so that you can support Pastor Isaac’s Ministry but there might be a little luxury in your life you can do without so that someone else can feed his child more than 5 kernels of corn a day.

Does your family go out for dinner occasionally? Instead of taking them out for pizza once a month have pizza at home and sponsor an orphan for $25.00 a month with the money you save by eating at home. Let the children know that they are feeding a child that has nothing by giving up their night out.

Do you spend $50.00 a month going out for lunch instead of brown bagging it to work? $50.00 a month pays a Lutheran Teachers salary enabling him/her to feed his/her own children.
Do you spend a lot of money on junk food? Give it up and send any monthly donation to the FEEDING PROGRAM that will help feed 500 children a bowl of rice and beans every day so that they do not starve.

Our family tradition on Thanksgiving has been to have 5 kernels of corn on every plate as we sit down to give thanks to God for the wonderful meal that is to come. As we put the 5 kernels in a dish that is passed around the table we each tell of something we are especially thankful for .

Make Thanksgiving meaningful this year. Teach your children the TRUE meaning of GIVING THANKS. Let them know we are Thanking GOD not the Indians, not mother earth, not the people who settled this country, God from whom all blessing flow.

Special Thanks to all who have supported Pastor Isaac's Ministry this past year.
We have 2 openings yet for our mission trip to Haiti March 11-20. If interested in joining us email suelynn144@aol.com